A Rant Regarding the Current State of Telltale (ALSO MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ANF AHEAD)

Comments

Agreed. The funny thing about Telltale's silence is, that the Voice Actor of Kenny apologised on Twitter for the sequence. Of course people said, that it wasn't his fault, which is true. But that tweet showed perfectly, what Kind of company Telltale really is.

The most frustrating thing, in my opinion, is that Telltale, from my experience of different fandoms, interacts less with the fans… more than most other developers.
Instead of coming on the forums to allay concerns and reassure us on things like the dubious 'one episode split into two' discourse and episode length, we get complete radio silence.
And, as one would expect, they continue to make these same mistakes (such as length) as they are not listening to fan feedback, which progressively makes the issue worse and worse.
You see the odd comment from staff but never interact with concerned fans who have spent hard earned money on their product.
I'm finding myself doubting they even read criticism let alone respond to it. They seem to have created something of an echo chamber.

Telltale made a dire mistake in Kenny and Jane’s deaths- they didn’t drag them out.

What would have been more effective and less likely to piss off the fans: give them half-assed deaths in the first episode, or give Clementine’s flashbacks more meaning by creating build up throughout the episodes until maybe episode four where it’s revealed that they’re dead? It would still piss off some people in the long run, but it would be better than the shitshow happening on the forums right now. If Telltale really wanted to claim use of “the butterfly effect” they could have had Kenny and Jane have multiple possible deaths, depending on your choices and dialogue options throughout seasons 1&2.

IMO, for what it is, A New Frontier is actually pretty good. If you go into it knowing full well that Kenny/Jane aren’t going to make it out alive, that is. Though you’ve got to admire just how lazy the death scenes were!

Jane’s was probably the highest quality out of all of them. I thought it was sad though I’m by no means a Jane fan. It made sense considering Jane wouldn’t want to be a liability, and it wasn’t predictable per say but it wasn’t a random cop-out. Many people suspected that Jane could have gotten pregnant by Luke and many people brushed off that possibility, but Telltale actually went there. That being said, I still believe a little more effort could have been put into the writing of that scene.

I have mixed feelings about the Wellington scene. Clementine and AJ’s dynamic is pretty cute, but the rest of the scene was a bit meh. I suppose it was weird to see Edith spending so much time with Clementine in particular though there’s got to be countless other people in that community who were also in danger, especially because Edith isn’t a character we’re familiar with. Clementine is upset but why would the player give a fuck about Edith?

And finally, the Kenny scene. That was laughable, there’s nothing else to say. Ah, apart from how Kenny looks like a goddamn pirate in this engine.

What would have been more effective and less likely to piss off the fans: give them half-assed deaths in the first episode, or give Clementine’s flashbacks more meaning by creating build up throughout the episodes until maybe episode four where it’s revealed that they’re dead? It would still piss off some people in the long run, but it would be better than the shitshow happening on the forums right now. If Telltale really wanted to claim use of “the butterfly effect” they could have had Kenny and Jane have multiple possible deaths, depending on your choices and dialogue options throughout seasons 1&2.

All of this is a great idea. I would love for it to just be dragged out a bit and for it to be more impactful and things actually matter. However the things you said about the deaths are a bit debatable.

Telltale made a dire mistake in Kenny and Jane’s deaths- they didn’t drag them out.
What would have been more effective and les… mores likely to piss off the fans: give them half-assed deaths in the first episode, or give Clementine’s flashbacks more meaning by creating build up throughout the episodes until maybe episode four where it’s revealed that they’re dead? It would still piss off some people in the long run, but it would be better than the shitshow happening on the forums right now. If Telltale really wanted to claim use of “the butterfly effect” they could have had Kenny and Jane have multiple possible deaths, depending on your choices and dialogue options throughout seasons 1&2.
IMO, for what it is, A New Frontier is actually pretty good. If you go into it knowing full well that Kenny/Jane aren’t going to make it out alive, that is. Though you’ve got to admire just how lazy the death scenes were!
* Jane… [view original content]

I have say I agree in how disappointed I am. First my choices aren't being integrated properly and the game plays out in a way it shouldn't. Then the big shocker death that occurred near the end of episode 1 REALLY rubbed me the wrong way in how there was no way to prevent it from occurring. So far I'm really disappointed in season 3 and that makes me really sad.

The most frustrating thing, in my opinion, is that Telltale, from my experience of different fandoms, interacts less with the fans… more than most other developers.
Instead of coming on the forums to allay concerns and reassure us on things like the dubious 'one episode split into two' discourse and episode length, we get complete radio silence.
And, as one would expect, they continue to make these same mistakes (such as length) as they are not listening to fan feedback, which progressively makes the issue worse and worse.
You see the odd comment from staff but never interact with concerned fans who have spent hard earned money on their product.
I'm finding myself doubting they even read criticism let alone respond to it. They seem to have created something of an echo chamber.

I know that's not a big deal as all the other bullshit that's been happening with this Season but it's something no one really mentioned and I find pretty disappointing. It's one of the things I always looked forward to.

I just realized there are no ending songs
I know that's not a big deal as all the other bullshit that's been happening with th… moreis Season but it's something no one really mentioned and I find pretty disappointing. It's one of the things I always looked forward to.

Agreed. The funny thing about Telltale's silence is, that the Voice Actor of Kenny apologised on Twitter for the sequence. Of cour… morese people said, that it wasn't his fault, which is true. But that tweet showed perfectly, what Kind of company Telltale really is.

I just realized there are no ending songs
I know that's not a big deal as all the other bullshit that's been happening with th… moreis Season but it's something no one really mentioned and I find pretty disappointing. It's one of the things I always looked forward to.

You make some good points. In my original playthrough of Season 2, I stayed at Howe's with Jane and the family. And dear GOD was that flashback terrible. Jane looked horrible in my opinion with the new engine and her suicide I saw coming from a mile away.

Also, I'm not really liking the new characters too much. Conrad is going to die early next episode if you didn't kill him because that's what TellTale does, and Tripp is pretty bland. And Jesus' dialogue to Javier's group was way too similar to his initial encounter with Rick's group in the comics.

This along with, in my opinion, a very disappointing Batman finale has me losing faith in TellTale fast. I hope they read this thread and take it seriously.

I just realized there are no ending songs
I know that's not a big deal as all the other bullshit that's been happening with th… moreis Season but it's something no one really mentioned and I find pretty disappointing. It's one of the things I always looked forward to.

TellTale definitely needs reworking. A lot of it. I was hoping they'd step it up after all the criticism season 2 of TWD received, but... Well, the forums speak for themselves. I don't know what's going on with them but they really have to start paying attention to feedback.

And here I thought I would have something to add. Everything seems to have been said already!
Did anyone notice the menu though? I start the game and my first thought is "Damn, that's a very plain looking menu. Fit for an 18th century puritan". I loved the classic "moving protagonist" menu with the music and everything...
After struggling with the whole "import your save" ordeal, I end up recreating my story. I have to admit it was pretty nice to try and remember what happened. Although it would have been even better, and not that complicated, to imagine some discussion between Javier and Clementine where the choices come up. I guess they wanted Clem to confide in Javier progressively, but they could have incorporated it in the story somehow.
And...Kenny. Again, everything's been said, but still...that was not cool. I get that he has to disappear from the plot, but they were waaaay better ways to do it. No need to have taken creative writing classes for years to come up with something. And if he HAS to die, then at least put some tension into it. A tearjerker would have been better than the emptiness I felt. I actually couldn't believe he died at first. I thought "There's just no way that was it". They even managed to give us a "Kenny will remember this" after you say your last words to him. He'll remember this? Really? While being eaten alive by muertos? What the fuck? At least he didn't suffer I guess, because of the paralysis and all.
And those stats! Wow! Did they not figure out that we would all side with Clem no matter the circumstances? If she wasn't there, I would have made some different choices. So it doesn't feel like I'm in Javier's shoes, but that I'm some guy controlling Javier to help Clem.
But it's not all bad! I think the characters have depth. Kate's pretty cool. The joint in episode 1 was a pretty nice move from Telltale. She reminds a bit of Chloe from Life is Strange. Maybe it's the whole alternative thing and carefree attitude. Javier's a good, somewhat standard, protagonist. He's kind of like Luke in a way, which is nice. I might have liked for him to be a bit more complicated. Lee had a complicated past. Lee was amazing. I miss Lee.
What's really awesome is the whole family bullshit they've got going on. The brothers who behave like Cain and Abel (under the impression that Javier's might have to kill his bro at some point), the weird love triangle with Kate, teaching Ben 2.0 (Gabriel) how not to be a douche, etc.
Still don't know if the story's going to be unique or just okay. We'll see.
Even though it's pretty obvious that Telltale's going downhill, I'm still happy to have a third season rather than nothing. Probably. Maybe. We'll see. But having Clem back is truly wonderful. People say she doesn't seem to have absorbed Lee's lessons. Lee died when she was 9, she's like 4 years older at this point. Lee's lessons are all mixed up with her other life lessons. Her badass attitude, already present in season 2, is probably just a defense mechanism. After all the shit she's been through, I can't imagine her behaving like a quaker, no matter how kind Lee was. All I mean is that the choices we made in season 1 and 2 are likely going to be evident in the key moments of the story. It would have been nice for there to be more subtle things, but at least we have that. Do you remember how Clem only swears in season 2 if Lee sweared in season 1? Everytime she said "shit" or "fuck" it was hilarious.
Fingers crossed for the next episodes!

meh we all thought he was a gonner after season 1 anyways at least they literally ended him.Sucks but hey in the twd universe not everyone gonna go out in a blaze of glory sometimes its gonna be the most mundane crap that ends a character.

I just realized there are no ending songs
I know that's not a big deal as all the other bullshit that's been happening with th… moreis Season but it's something no one really mentioned and I find pretty disappointing. It's one of the things I always looked forward to.

I reeaally want Telltale to remake the first episode. You know, the one that was split into two. It's a low chance, but I just can't stand the way the story is right now. They have three more episodes to fix our fears, after that, ANF may become ironically the worst season they have ever made, it's gonna hurt their reputation immensely among old-time fans.

And with Guardians of the Galaxy, I have extremely low hope, sure, they've proven they can do well with humor, but in terms of impactful decisions, well, it feels like telltale is following a formula, and that formula is going to throw away all of their old fans.

And here I thought I would have something to add. Everything seems to have been said already!
Did anyone notice the menu though?… more I start the game and my first thought is "Damn, that's a very plain looking menu. Fit for an 18th century puritan". I loved the classic "moving protagonist" menu with the music and everything...
After struggling with the whole "import your save" ordeal, I end up recreating my story. I have to admit it was pretty nice to try and remember what happened. Although it would have been even better, and not that complicated, to imagine some discussion between Javier and Clementine where the choices come up. I guess they wanted Clem to confide in Javier progressively, but they could have incorporated it in the story somehow.
And...Kenny. Again, everything's been said, but still...that was not cool. I get that he has to disappear from the plot, but they were waaaay better ways to do it. No need to hav… [view original content]

Haha! The "netflix vibe"...sounds ominous, doesn't it?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
This is the weirdest thing. They're destroying everything that made them different. Is it really about money? Or is something else going on?

It seems like all they're doing is listening to critics and not their fans, it should be the other way around. This is what is bothering me the most. If they don't hear our criticisms, they're not going to change anything, are they?

We are the ones who are loyal, we are the ones who are going to stick by them and buy their games.

Everyone keeps comparing Javier to Luke and that's not good. I hate Luke and I cheered when he fell through the ice. He was a total idiot. "I'm going to get us out of here" *he gets captured. "OK we need to seriously start listening to Carver and forget the escape plan." Lol. Not to mention the idiot failed to watch for walkers while AJ was being born. I never ever liked Luke so I guess I won't like Javier then ? Whatever. Luke failed to protect Clem a few times and honestly was a poor leader. R. I. P. Pete.

Exactly, thats another problem. Lately people have been getting the episode way earlier than usual and Ive been getting spoiled constantly, by things like this, something non related at all showing me what happens.

Regarding @ClemyClooAndBabyboo's point about the youtube titles.
I dont know who this youtuber is, nor have I watched a season 3 video. So explain that recommend that CLEARLY spoils, good I played before I saw this.

So btw, if anyone cares I'll probably write a fair and level headed review of the first two episodes and try to give my real thoughts on it without being to blinded by anger. I watched both of the episodes online because of sheer temptation, and it's... it's better than Season 2 so far, but that's not saying much.

Everybody from S1 and S2 are dead....let that sink in. The one thing the show has over the video games is character transition. There are still characters from S1 alive and we are currently in s7. Fucking hell telltale you wound me. I just angered myself again.

Fair enough. That one's largely on me, since I didn't immediately see ANF as A New Frontier. I haven't kept up with Telltale as much as I used to with other releases, so the acronym and title are still new to me. I still think of this as TWD S3, if that makes sense.

I think that we all can agree that the current staff should be fired and replaced with the staff of Batman and Tales from the Borderlands. I wasn't even a fan really of Tales, yet it had quality. Which team made Michonne mini series ? That was the best TT Walking Dead game since the first one. I was only excited about NF when I thought that a new team had taken over and saw the glaring problems with S2. Javi's sister in law has a crush on him because of her mean husband ? What the heck ? Why can't she just like Javi as a friend. Do you know how generic a love story that sounds by how they wrote it ?